Hanover Primary School teachers who walked 30km from Broxbourne to Sadler’s Wells to raise funds for a new playground

TEACHERS who took on a 30k walk and won – just – are now counting the coins as the donations roll in to thank them for their efforts.

Polly Shields is the deputy head at Hanover Primary School and one of the 12 staff who pulled on their hiking boots to walk from Broxbourne to Sadler’s Wells on Saturday to raise funds to pay for a new playground.

Among other staff who joined the New River Path walk to raise just under £6,000 so far of an “aspirational” £30,000 were the school’s head, as well as six-months-pregnant teacher Katy and teacher Shane, who was celebrating his 26th birthday on the day.

“The walk was great, it was lovely weather, although it turns out 30km is a long way – especially when it’s on pavement,” Ms Shields said.

“It was really nice to spend time with colleagues in a non-work situation, to walk and talk and hang out together.”

She said she was “thrilled” that the money already raised will go towards updating their playground, which has come to the end of its life, but warned that they will need significantly more funds to replace the climbing structures and a fence.

Ms Shields also acknowledged that their fundraising had raised a few eyebrows at the school gates.

“Interestingly, we have a high proportion of our parents who are European and they don’t understand it – [they ask] ‘Why are you having to do this? This doesn’t happen in Germany’,” she said.

“It is a shame that budgets are so tight that this is what we have to do to provide the provision that children deserve.”

To make a donation towards the new playground, visit https://localgiving.org/appeal/30kforfor30k/